The death toll has reached an astonishing 245 people after a fire swept through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early Sunday morning. In addition to the deaths, police say that approximately 200 others were injured.

Police Maj. Cleberson Braida told local news media that the 245 bodies were brought for identification to a gymnasium in the city of Santa Maria. A cashier told local police that people began shouting “Fire” and “Many people ran for the bathrooms and wound up dying suffocated,” he said.

Police estimated that around 900 people were inside the ‘Kiss’ nightclub when the fire started. Brazil’s President, Dilma Roussef, canceled a series of meetings in Chile to remain near the investigation.

Written by Sarah on January 28th, 2013 | Tagged as: Popular Culture